WASHINGTON — The House Rules Committee advanced a sweeping Russia sanctions bill Monday, clearing a procedural step that could lead to a vote later this week but leaving Republican leaders with a narrow path to final passage. The measure, backed by the White House and championed by the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, passed the Senate with broad bipartisan support in August. It would impose mandatory sanctions on Russia’s leadership and energy sector, along with companies tied to the country’s defense industry and its so-called shadow fleet of vessels used to evade sanctions. The bill would also authorize President Donald Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian oil. That provision has become the central point of contention in the House, where Democrats argue it would grant the White House sweeping powers that could raise prices for U.S. consumers and be used against countries beyond Russia. “Today we have an opportunity to help end the war in Europe and project peace through strength around the globe,” Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, said during the Rules Committee hearing. He argued that failing to act would benefit Moscow and embolden other U.S. adversaries, including North Korea and Iran. Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said Democrats would provide “overwhelming” support for the sanctions package if the secondary-tariff provisions were removed. Meeks proposed amendments to strike the tariff language, clarify that the European Union would not be treated as a single country for tariff purposes and limit presidential waivers to circumstances deemed vital to U.S. national security. The committee rejected those amendments. It also rejected an alternative proposal from Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., who supports the tariff authority but sought to identify 10 countries that could be affected: China, India, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Hungary, Slovakia, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. “It is deeply flawed, despite what its title says,” Meeks said. “It’s unlikely to result in any new sanctions on Russia. It will, however, hand the president of the United States sweeping new tariff authorities that he can abuse to raise the cost on the American people.” Hoyer, a cosponsor of the House version, argued that passing the bill remained urgent. “If we do not pass this bill, there will be great joy in the Kremlin and great devastation in Kyiv,” he said. The legislation faces additional procedural and timing challenges. House Republican leaders may struggle to approve the rule governing floor debate if they lose more than a handful of GOP votes. Speaker Mike Johnson said he believes Republicans have enough support, but he also indicated he could avoid that vote by using a fast-track process known as suspension of the rules. That route would require a two-thirds majority, making Democratic support essential. Johnson said Monday that if the rule vote fails, he would move to the expedited process. The speaker also said President Trump would not veto the measure, despite White House opposition to Hoyer’s proposed list of countries. The House is scheduled to leave Washington later this week and is not expected to return until after the Nov. 3 midterm elections. If lawmakers do not act this week, consideration of the sanctions bill could be delayed until after the election, adding uncertainty to a measure that has already slowed since the summer recess amid weaker Republican enthusiasm and rising Democratic objections. Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., the committee’s ranking member, said he expected the bill to pass despite the dispute over tariffs.